insight academy notes

1. 2014 JANUARY
Challenge 1
1. Examine the nature of Social Facts as understood by Emile Durkheim. (300 words)
2. Describe the salient features of the poverty alleviation programs. What modifications would you suggest
to make them more effective? (200 words)
Challenge 2
1. What are social phenomena? Distinguish them from psychological phenomena.( 200 words)
2. Discuss the impact of industrialization and urbanization on family in India.( 300 words)
Challenge 3
1. Discuss the emerging forms of marriage and family with examples from the West and the East. Can
there be family without marriage? Examine (300 words)
2. Comment on the sociological impact of globalization on people working in the Informal sector. (200
words)
Challenge 4
1. Comment on the critics’ charge that Immanuel Wallerstein’s dependency theory is simplistic and
wrong. (200 words)
2. Write a short note on Indological perspective of G.S. Ghurye. (200 words)
Challenge 5
1. Write a note on comparison between Sociology and Economics. (200 words)
2. Comment on the influence of social and cultural factors on family planning in India. (200 words)
Challenge 6
1. Critically examine Weber’s theory of Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. (300 words)
2. Mahatma Gandhi is often described as revolutionary. Examine this characterization in the light of the
theory of social movements. (300 words)
Challenge 7
1. Write Short note on Quasi-groups. (200 words)
2. Write in not more than 200 words about Acculturation and integration of tribal communities. (200
words)
FEBRUARY
Challenge 8
1. Write a short note on C. Wright Mills’ Power Elite. (200 words)

2. 2. Comment on the changes that the Agrarian Social Structure in India is undergoing. (300 words)
Challenge 9
1. Write about Social mobility in open and closed systems. [IAS 2008] [200 words]
2. In the context of the caste system, critically examine Louis Dumont’s concept of purity and
pollution.[IAS 2009] [300 words]
Challenge 10
1. Write a note on Objectivity and Value Neutrality in Social Research. (200 words/ IAS 2004)
2. Write a note on S.N.D.P. Movement. (200 words/ IAS 2008)
Challenge 11
1. Bring out a comparative analysis of Marxian and Parsonian views of social change and examine the
relevance of each view for social development in the contemporary India.(600 words/ IAS 2004/ 60
marks)
2. Mention the Impact of Muslims on Indian Society.(200 words/ IAS 2004)
Challenge 12
1. Distinguish between Sex and Gender. Discuss the gender issues with suitable examples (300 words/IAS
2002)
2. Describe the socio-economic factors responsible for communal tensions in India. What suggestions will
you give to control them? (300 words/IAS 2003)
Challenge 13
1. Discuss the important factors involved in the making of a criminal. (300 words)
2. Evaluate the changing frontiers of caste system in contemporary India. (300 words)
Challenge 14
1. Highlight the problem of objectivity and value-neutrality in Social Research. Elaborate, with suitable
examples, the limitations associated with the tools of measurements in Social Science Researches. (200
words/ CSM 2003)
2. Examine the conceptual distinction between social inequality and social stratification. How do the nature
and forms of the social stratification system determine the patterns of social mobility? (200 words/ CSM
2003)
Challenge 15
1. What are micro-sociology and macro-sociology? How could the two be related?(200 words/ IAS ’74)
2. What is a “tribe”? Examine the view that the tribes in India are tribes in transition.(200 words/ IAS ’77)
Challenge 16
1. Write short note on ‘Relative Deprivation’ (200 words/ IAS 1999)

3. 2. Describe the distinctive features of tribal communities in India. Discuss the factors affecting tribal
identity. (300 words/ IAS 2006)
Challenge 17
1. Discuss the Class struggle as conceived by Karl Marx(200 words/ IAS 2005)
2. Describe the process of emergence of the middle class in India. What role has the middle class played in
national development?(300 words/ IAS 2005)
Challenge 18
1. Analyse the sociological ideas of Pareto. (300 words/ IAS 1964)
2. Discuss the metaphysical and ethical basis of Hindu social organization. (300 words/ IAS 2002)
Challenge 19
1. Bring out Tonnies’ differentiation between ‘Community’ (Gemeinschaft) and ‘society’ (Gesselschaft)
and show how this paved the path for Cooley to develop his theory of primary group.(200
words/IAS1965).
2. Write short note on- The share-croppers’ movement in India. (200 words/IAS1991).
Challenge 20
1. Bring out the role of Culture in the development of human personality. (200 words)
2. Sociologists would not have objected to proselytization but for its harmful effects on Indian culture’.
Discuss critically. (200 words)
Challenge 21
1. What is Merton’s view of relationship between social structure and deviance? In what sense is a deviant
also a conformist? (500 words/ IAS 2008)
Challenge 22
1. Critically evaluate the child welfare programs in India. Have they benefitted all sections of children in
India? (500 words/IAS 2000)
Challenge 23
1. State the meaning and characteristics of an ideal type. What, according to Max Weber, is the use and
significance of the ‘ideal type’ in social science research. (200 words)
Challenge 24
1. Elaborate the concept of political elite. Explain how social structural origins of political elites influence
their political orientations.(500 words/IAS 2001)

4. Challenge 25
1. What are the structural conditions under which movements emerge? Discuss with reference to any one
theory of genesis of social movements. (200 words)
Challenge 26
1. Elaborate on the social necessity of religion. Discuss the relationship between religion and science. (500
words/ IAS 1999)
Challenge 27
1. In the context of the caste system, critically examine Louis Dumont’s concept of purity and pollution.
(300 words/ IAS 2009)
Challenge 28
1. Comment on the reasons why neo-idealists and symbolic interactionists are critical of ‘positivism’ in
Sociology. (300 words)
Challenge 29
1. What is the impact of Globalization on the structure and mobilization of the working class in India? (500
words)
Challenge 30
1. Distinguish between probability and non-probability sampling methods. How many types of sampling
designs are there? (300 words/ IAS 2009)
Challenge 31
1. Emile Durkheim’s conception of Social Fact was essentially an endeavor by him to create a separate
niche and scientific status for sociology. Explain.(200 words)
Challenge 32
1. Critically Examine Emile Durkheim’s Concept of Sacred and Profane and how it can be viewed for
Indian Society (250 words)
Challenge 33
1. Examine Emile Durkheim’s Concept of The Division of Labor and how it can be viewed for modern
Societies (250 words)
Challenge 34
1. Critically Examine the Concept of Suicide and how is it viewed in Modern Societies especially in
India. (250 words)

5. Challenge 35
1. How Marx understood Sociology through Process of Dialectics and how a common man can understand
contemporary Society by Dialectics? Explain with examples.(300words)
Challenge 36
1. Explain Karl Marx’s theory of class struggle. Evaluate the theory in terms of its relevance in explaining
contemporary reality. ( 250 words)
Challenge 37
1. Forces of Production changes in Evolutionary manner and Relations of Production changes in
evolutionary manner .Explain with Karl Marx’s view and use present day examples.(200 words)
Challenge 38
1. Critically Examine Karl Marx’s theory of Alienation. (200 words)
Challenge 39
1. Compare Karl Marx with ED with reference to the framework of DOL.(200 words)
Challenge 40
1. Write Short note on: Social System and Pattern Variables. (200 words)
Challenge 41
1. Bring out a Comparative analysis of Marxian and Parsonian views of Social change and Examine the
relevance of each view for Social Development in the Contemporary India. (200 words/CSM 2004)
Challenge 42
1. Write Short note on Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control (200 words/CSM 2010)
Challenge 43
1. To Robert Merton, deviant behaviour is a result of Anomie. Analyse his Sociological theory of deviant
behaviour, with a special reference to his formulation of types of Deviance. (250words/ CSM2009)
Challenge 44
1. Write short note on: Robert Merton’s views on latent & manifest functions. (200 words)
Challenge 45
1. Write short note on: Primary and Reference Groups. (200 words)

6. Challenge 46
1. What are the reactions of Robert Merton to the functionalism pioneered by social Anthropologists?
Indicate the limitations of his ides of latent functions. (200 words)
Challenge 47
1. Power and authority go together. Examine. Also explain the various types of Authority. (200 words)
Challenge 48
1. Define Ideal type and explain Weber’s concept of Verstehen for understanding Social
Phenomenon? (200 words)
Challenge 49
1. Critically examine Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism? (200 words)
Challenge 50
1. Critically analyze the contributions of G.H Mead to Symbolic Interactionism? (200 words)
Challenge 51
1. Describe the importance of lineage and descent in kinship and family. (200 words)
Challenge 52
1. What you mean by marriage and family? Discuss the Structural and functional changes in family in
modern society. (200 words)
Challenge 53
1. Discuss the meanings and significance of culture in Human society. Critically bring out the role of
culture in the development of Personality. (200 words)
Challenge 54
1. Write short note on: Social Consequences of increase in the rate of Divorce. (200 words)
Challenge 55
1. In our society Hierarchical relations are influenced by Social Mobility . Explain How? (200 words)
Challenge 56
1. Explain how open and closed systems of stratification are undergoing transformation in the emergence
of new hierarchical social order in societies. (200 words)

7. Challenge 57
1. Socialization and social control are complimentary to each other in maintaining Social Order – Elucidate
your answer with appropriate illustrations. (200 words)
Challenge 58
1. How do formal and informal organization of work influence labors mobility ? Explain
with examples. (200 words)
Challenge 59
1. Write short note on feminization of labor in informal sector. (200 words)
Challenge 60
1. Write short note on Social Determinants of Economic Development. (200 words)
Challenge 61
1. Write short note on Self Help Group as an informal organization from a sociological perspective. (200
words)
Challenge 62
1. Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Citizenship and Civil Society. (200
words)
Challenge 63
1. Collective action in politics can bring integration and disintegration in society “. Comment. (200 words)
Challenge 64
1. Write short note on bureaucracy in New capitalist economy. (200 words)
Challenge 65
1. Are social Movements always influenced by ideologies? Discuss. (200 words)
Challenge 66
1. Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Millenarian Movements. (200 words)
Challenge 67
1. What are the Structural elements of a social Movement? State how a social movement comes to its end.
Illustrate your answer with example. (200 words)

8. Challenge 68
1. Write short note on: ideology and strategy of Social Movement. (200 words)
Challenge 69
1. Write short note on: Protest Movements. (200 words)
Challenge 70
1. Discuss in detail the Mass Media and education on Indian Society. (200 words)
Challenge 71
1. Write short note on: Privatization of Education and Equality of Opportunity? (200 words)
Challenge 72
1. “Education is induction into learner’s culture”. Examine the statement in Society today? (200 words)
Challenge 73
1. Write short note on: Youth Culture. (200 words)
Challenge 74
1. Write short note on” Positive Religion. (200 words)
Challenge 75
1. Define Sect, Cult and Religion. In what way do Weber’s views on religion differ from those of
Durkheim? (200 words)
Challenge 76
1. “Science has empirical means to logical ends and Religion has non empirical means to logical ends.”
Comment. (200 words)
Challenge 77
1. Critically examine functional and dysfunctional aspects of Religion. (200 words)
Challenge 78
1. Write short note on: Science and social Responsibility. (200 words)
Challenge 79
1. Write short note on: Social Impacts of New Technologies in India. (200 words)

9. Challenge 80
1. Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Theory of cultural lag –Ogburn and
Nimkoff. (200 words)
Challenge 81
1. Revolutionary changes have some specific characteristics “. Discuss with examples. (200 words)
Challenge 82
1. Social Support Mechanism needs to be strengthened for effective implementation of development
programs” .Comment (200 words)
Challenge 83
1. Define Social Policy. Evaluate the performance of social policy in modernization of developing
Societies. (200 words)
Challenge 84
1. Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Reliability and Validity. (200 words)
Challenge 85
1. Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Utility and Reliability in Social
Research. (200 words)
Challenge 86
1. Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Comparative method. (200 words)
Challenge 87
1. Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Fact, value and Objectivity. (200
words)
Challenge 88
1. Comment on the reasons why neo idealists and symbolic interactionists are critical of Positivism in
Sociology. (200 words)
Challenge 89
1. Write short note on “problem of Objectivity in Research. (200 words)
Challenge 90
1. What can Sociology show about our Action? Discuss the Practical significance of Sociology. (200
words)